6 NOVEMBER 1909, Page 13

OUR ENTRY INTO HUNAN.

Our Entry into Hunan. By the Rev. C. Wilfrid Allan. (R. Culley. 2s. 6d.)—China, some half-a-dozen places excepted, is sure to be unfamiliar ground to most readers. How few could locate at once Hunan and Hupeh (North Lake Land and South Lake Land) ! Yet they are quite notable provinces, with a popu- lation not much less than that of the United Kingdom. Hunan was famous for its sturdy anti-foreign feeling. lip to within the last twenty years it was practically closed even to travellers. A missionary certainly could not cross its border without the greatest danger to life. The expression of feeling was so violent that Government action, nothing vigorous, it is true, was taken about it. Then came a sudden change, and this from a body of native Christians. These were determined to make an attempt at the evangelisation of the region. They asked for no European money or European help. Before long, of course, this work was taken up by the missionary societies. Altogether, it makes a very interesting story. China is a hopeful field for enterprise of this kind. It is boundlessly large; it offers a great variety of open- ings; and the history of the past gives no little confidence as to what may happen in the future. The Chinese converts have shown, not once or twice only, but many times, courage and fidelity to their convictions.